Quitting Drinking: How to Taper Off Alcohol

One of the keys to a successful taper is taking gradual steps that will cause as few side effects as possible. It’s common for the first symptoms to appear within a few hours after your last drink. Dependence is often accompanied by tolerance, which is when it takes more and more alcohol for you to achieve the same effects that you experienced when you first started. Another sign that you might need to taper is morning alcohol cravings. As such, there is only limited guidance available about the best ways to taper. One tip is to include more protein and fiber-rich foods in your diet, which can help regulate blood sugars and provide a feeling of fullness, Zumpano said.

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Soon, they will become second nature and your triggers will not have as much of an effect on you. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Many insurance companies will help pay for some or all of your treatment costs.

Although tapering down has many advantages, it is critical that you consult with a medical or addiction treatment professional first. In many cases, medically-supervised alcohol detox is the only safe way to stop drinking, especially if you’re suffering from AUD. Weaning off alcohol in a safe way can help reduce the severity of some withdrawal symptoms. Orlando Recovery Center says that when you taper your alcohol intake over time, you reduce the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms7. This is because this process gives your brain more time to get used to the changes and damage that alcohol originally created.

This method involves gradually reducing alcohol consumption over time, allowing the body to adjust to the changes. Tapering off alcohol offers several benefits, including a safer transition and minimizing withdrawal symptoms. Little data is available about the safety and effectiveness of alcohol tapers. In contrast, robust evidence supports quitting alcohol while under medical supervision.

Can Alcohol Addiction be Safely Tapered Off?

You should develop this plan while you are in treatment, so you can use it to protect and maintain your sobriety once your stint in treatment ends. If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol or other drugs, call us now to speak with a Recovery Advocate. Alcohol proof is the amount of alcohol found in distilled spirits or liquor. Smaller drinks with a higher percentage of alcohol are stronger than the same size drink containing a lower-proof liquor.

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Here’s how to wean off alcohol—including useful strategies, how to create a tapering schedule, and how to stay safe throughout the process. If you drink heavily on a regular basis, it can be dangerous to stop alcohol cold turkey. For this reason, you should not suddenly quit drinking without talking to your doctor.

Reduce Your Number of Drinks Per Day

The gradual reduction method can be difficult, as you must strictly control how much you drink daily. You may decide to seek medical treatment for your withdrawal symptoms or make the choice to enter a professional detox or rehab center. Even if you don’t succeed the first time, there are still plenty of treatment options you can turn to. Tapering off alcohol involves gradually reducing the amount of alcohol you drink.

Pros and Cons of Tapering Down Alcohol Intake

These factors can make https://www.inkl.com/news/sober-house-rules-a-comprehensive-overview one person’s taper last longer than another person’s taper. By gradually decreasing the number of drinks consumed per day or per week, you can taper off alcohol in a controlled manner. Remember to consult with a healthcare professional or addiction specialist to determine the appropriate reduction rate for your circumstances. However, an alcohol use disorder doesn’t just affect your physical health. Alcoholism can affect multiple areas of your life, including your relationships, career, financial stability, and mental health.

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Tolerance, dependence, social habits, setting, the biology of the individual and more must all be considered. Learn to recognize all the FDA-approved sweeteners but also check for sugar alcohols, known as polyols, which are chemically like sugar but have fewer calories. Manufacturers often add one or more polyols for bulk in artificial sweeteners sold for baking and in small individual packets. There is also an intensive outpatient program (IOP) that includes group therapy, individual counseling, and education about the disease of addiction.

What Are the Benefits of 30 Days Without Alcohol?

• Those FDA-approved sugar substitutes include sucralose, saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, or Ace-K, neotame and advantame.
• These factors can make one person’s taper last longer than another person’s taper.
• Before you begin an alcohol taper, a little preparation can go a long way, especially when it involves handling your triggers and tracking how much you drink.
• When you quit drinking, you should also seek medical advice about any alcohol withdrawal symptoms you experience.
• We support both moderation and abstinence as goals and, although we cannot provide medical detox remotely, we can help you design an effective tapering schedule to reduce your drinking.
• Jeff’s work has been used in rehabs across the country as tools to help patients achieve sobriety.

A person is free to increase the taper speed (e.g., lower by three drinks instead of two) as they see fit. A sample taper schedule involves calculating the number of drinks consumed per day. After this is calculated, make a schedule where you consume your normal amount on the first day and make regular reductions each day after.

• Note that Disulfiram it is not a cure to alcoholism, and a full therapy must be used.
• Its cultural acceptance has made it a common psychoactive substance in the United States.
• All of these withdrawal symptoms are common during acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
• Alcohol withdrawal occurs when neurotransmitters that combat the effects of alcohol on the nervous system suddenly have nothing to counteract them.
• Although tapering down has many advantages, it is critical that you consult with a medical or addiction treatment professional first.

This excessive glutamate level can lead to alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can be dangerous. Long-term alcohol use can lead to alcohol use disorder (AUD) and physical dependence. If your body becomes physically dependent on alcohol, you may experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking. Studies have shown that 13–71% of people undergoing alcohol detox sober house develop withdrawal symptoms. Factors such as pattern of alcohol use, other medical conditions, genetics and how your body responds to alcohol can play a role in withdrawal symptoms.

While this process isn’t enjoyable, there are so many benefits in the new sober life that you’re creating for yourself. Start by estimating how much you drink on a daily basis—and be honest with yourself. It can help to make use of standard drink measurements, as mentioned above.

By tapering off, individuals can gradually break the cycle of alcohol dependence and reduce the chances of experiencing intense cravings or relapses. It provides a more realistic and sustainable path towards sobriety, increasing the chances of long-term success. Tapering off is often recommended for individuals who have been consuming alcohol regularly and in higher quantities. It provides a safer transition compared to sudden cessation, which can lead to more severe withdrawal symptoms. When you quit alcohol after having developed alcohol dependence, your brain will be thrown into a chemical imbalance.